The St. Louis Premium Outlets’ shopping cart appears fuller. Planned for near the Missouri River bridge, it’s the one that says its lined up a Saks Outlet — and it also received approval Monday night from the city council for a one-percent sales taxing district to help cover $30 million of construction costs.

But the other, the Taubman Outlets, hoped for near the Hardee’s ice rink and across 64/40 from the Chesterfield Commons strip mall, tried last night to resurrect fears that its rival’s plan would plow through the popular Rombach farm.

Council member Barry Flachsbart says that is just not true.

“There is no imminent domain or anybody trying to force anything onto Rombach farm,” Flachsbart says, in response. “If Rombach and they make a deal, they’ll make a deal. If they don’t make a deal, they’ll go the other direction.”

The Premium Outlets seem to be ahead, but the Taubman Outlets say they will announce their tenants soon and maybe even break ground.

Mayor Bruce Geiger says he will not venture a guess as to which will cross the finish line first.

“I honestly don’t know enough about that business to know what they’re doing,” Geiger says. “They’re both out there frantically trying to find tenants.”

Flachsbart says he is not sure either.

“I don’t know which one,” Flachsbart says. “I can’t even figure out how I would guess.”

Geiger says the incentives are at no cost to the city because the additional sales tax would apply only to purchases at the outlet center itself. Chesterfield Mall, though, might feel a pinch.

“It’s probably going to have some negative impact, a little bit with the mall, and maybe some overlap on stores. Our analysis says that is very small so I think the whole thing is additive,” Geiger says.